Winter seems to already be in full force here in Chicago. It can be hard to keep your apartment warm when it’s cold outside. You may also see a rise in electric and gas bills over the winter.
Here are some tips for making sure your apartment stays warm and energy-efficient over the cold winter months.
If your apartment has forced-air heating, check your vents to make sure they are not being blocked by furniture. Giving the vents some space will ensure that they’re able to heat the room as efficiently as possible.
If you aren’t using every room of your apartment, close the vents in the rooms you don’t use. It will help to keep your energy bill down.
If your apartment has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between each radiator and the wall. These reflectors will help to heat the room instead of the wall.
The sun is a great source of natural heat. Keep your shades and curtains open on the east, south and west sides of your apartment to get some natural solar heat. Close your blinds once the sun goes down to help keep heat in your home.
Air leaks can be costly. Reducing them can reduce your monthly energy bill by 10%. The most common places where air escapes homes are: floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
If you have a fireplace, be sure to close the damper when you’re not using it.
During the winter months, your apartment will feel warmer if the air is not too dry. Using a humidifier to help keep a relative humidity between 20 and 40 percent should allow you to feel warmer without having to turn up the thermostat.
If it’s exceptionally cold outside, sometimes a warm bath, hot cup of tea or your favorite blanket is the only thing that will do the trick. We love Chicago in the winter, but sometimes getting cozy and watching a good movie at home is the best way to spend a cold winter night.
